yes, that was loverly

 I needed a good old solo day yesterday so off I went for duck noodle soup at King Thai Noodle and then to the SF Playhouse for My Fair Lady. I had a splendid time and so enjoyed this musical which I have seen many times, so nostalgia was my companion and a most welcome one. I prefer to live in the present, but once a a great while I do sink back into the days of yore. And that's OK. Oh, the dog belongs to SF Playhouse and she came out for intermission yesterday. Very cool.

Ken (the person)

 (As opposed to Ken, my 2000 Toyota.) We had lunch at the Precita Park Cafe and then came back here for tea and some "remember whens?" I met Ken over 30 years ago when we were both eager booksellers and just starting out on our so-called careers. Barnes & Noble, Borders and then we both ended up working in museums. Somehow we always stayed in touch ~ a good thing too. And note blue sky!

another K-drama

 I needed to escape to Seoul for Beyond the Bar, a compelling legal drama about a young rookie woman lawyer and her cold (but not really) mentor boss. The clients and cases are unusually interesting in my opinion, so you might want to check it out on the Flix®.

let's just back track, OK?

 Of course you all remember that I met Emma one Sunday a few years ago while picking up trash at Manny's, right? We bonded and she moved to Portland and Handy Jan built a suite for her and she finally used it with her partner, Natalie, and everything was oh so smooth. Emma and Natalie arrived Friday night for pizza here and Saturday we went to breakfast at Le Marais in the Castro. I introduced them to Waymo and they loved the driverless cars and downloaded the app for themselves and used it without me on Saturday as they flew around SF and I prepped for the party. So, whoosh, that's it in a nutshell. Heidi, Emma and I went to Manny's yesterday morning for trashing and had a splendid time as Natalie enjoyed some alone time with her coffee and she ran into a woman that she met in Thailand a few years ago and isn't life just amazing and wonderful? Well, most of the time. Emma and Natalie left yesterday afternoon and are now back home with their big dog, Ferguson. I already miss them...

party photos today (words tomorrow)

 

It was a hit! Good friends, good food and yes, I am a bit tired this morning. Emma's Room seems to be perfect, as are the current occupants. 

house guests = happy!

 Emma and Natalie arrived about 8pm last night and we had pizza and salad and lots of lovely catch-up talk and we are going to take a Waymo (their first) to breakfast and then they will poke around SF while I prepare gently for the party tonight. So finally Emma's Room is in use. I apologized for the fog but they said that Portland is unbearably hot and they welcomed the cool SF air. 

proud to be a Californian

 You go, Guv. Politics is getting nasty but finally the Democrats are standing up to the Bully Dictator who wants to be King. No one really wants biased redistricting, except a few in Texas, but we have no choice and so the gloves are on and we fight back.

we all loved Sabine

 Sabine (on the right, top photo) passed away Tuesday night. I spent some time reviewing posts here since the Blogmaid family adopted her from the SF SPCA back in 2014. She had such a nice life down in Half Moon Bay and was so welcoming when Pito was adopted a few years ago. This is a sad time. RIP Sabine.

the card, the cushion and you-know-who

 Thanks to the Blogmaid for sending the sweet kitty-in-front-of-fireplace greeting card. Our mornings here are peaceful, predictable and perfect. Purrrrfect. 

the yearly check-up

 Heidi (left) helped me cage-and-carry Annabelle to the SPCA Vet Hospital yesterday for the yearly lecture on how I should be brushing the teeth of my feline who is now considered a senior. What? Hoe dd that happen? Annabelle is healthy and just a tad overweight and yes, about the best cat ever.

Women's basketball fever

 Thanks to Terri I was able to watch the Valkyries play last night at Chase Center. For a first year team they are doing great and the games are sold out. Imagine. And, Britney Griner (remember her?) plays for the Atlanta Dream so that was special to see her on the court. Alas, we lost, but what a joy to see the enthusiasm for these WNBA stars. Such a fine time, more gratitude.

miniature baby shower

 Heather, on the left, is expecting Elizabeth in September. Remember when she and Lily (on the right) lived in the nabe? Well, they have both moved on with their male partners, but we still stay connected and  so yesterday enjoyed yet another tea, but this one was baby-themed. Neighbor Heidi is in the middle there and she and Lily brought cakes, so all I had to do was heat the water and set the table. Thanks to the Blogmaid for the happy baby decor.

Fisk ~ for fun

 I'm enjoying this comedy-drama. Fisk wears this horrid brown suit every day to a quirky law firm that specializes in wills and probates. This is filmed in Melbourne and I finished Season One last night. Two more to go ~ yay. Give it a try on the Flix®.

another tea, another birthday

 We gathered at Gini's yesterday to celebrate Helene and I think that does it for August birthdays. Now I am preparing for a tea at my home tomorrow ~ but not a birthday, whoosh. I'm also excited to tell you that Emma and Natalie will be here next weekend and staying in Emma's Room. Hooray!

Half Moon Bay Day

 Mr. and Ms. Blogmaid joined Neti and me at It's Italia for lunch to celebrate Neti and just chit chat about everything under the emerging sun. Pumpkinville was busy and bustling and we had a terrific time. So many interesting retail stores and a delightful little coffee shop because we needed a sit down and lattes after a lot of "shall I buy this?" kind of earth shaking decisions. An excellent day ~ thank you HMB.

a new, used chair

 Annabelle, my almost perfect cat, has managed to shred a chair here so I had Taskrabbit remove it and I have been shopping for another one. I tried Salvation Army, Community Thrift and then finally found the perfect little gem at Reperch where I had not been before. It's HUGE  (top photo) ~ a big warehouse kind of store filled with everything imaginable. They helped me stuff the chair into my aged Toyota, and yes, I am delighted with my new/used acquisition. So far the cat does not like it. Good.

fancy food truck

 There is a handy lunch spot a few doors down from the Salvation Army where I did some smart shopping yesterday. A Mexican food truck that features tablecloths, flowers (!) and a decent veggie burrito All part of a very pleasant neighborhood walk. 

lunch at the Ferry Plaza

 Susan was down from Davis yesterday and we hopped in Lyft to enjoy the sunshine and crowds down at The Embarcadero. We had delicious salads for lunch at A16 and did a bit of walking as we caught up on each others' lives. There was a bit of "whatever happened to so-and-so?" but we both mostly like to live in the now. (And we are hell bent on staying positive.) A very good Sunday.

clever name, lovely lunch

 So nice to see Sylvia again (bottom right) and thanks to Mr. and Ms. Blogmaid for driving to/fro Mill Valley and for treating us to an excellent lunch of salad, fries, pizza. For my hundreds of out-of-town readers (joke). we are located here almost right next to Mount Tamalpais, usually just called Mount Tam. Such a nice day, gratitude abounds once more.

once more with Wayne

 Yesterday I returned solo to the Legion of Honor to see the Wayne Thiebaud exhibit before it closes soon. If possible I like to go twice as I usually miss something or I want to study a piece that I really liked the first time. I'm so glad I did this, I had a fine time and a lot to think about.

we can surely use a laugh

 Chef Sarah recommended Leanne and yes, it is just what I need at this particular time. Southern women doing the best they can and having some fun too. Netflix.

friends, art and food

 Sarah and Sam were kind enough to invite me to the Helen Berggruen artist exhibit yesterday, I love her work and they are friends of hers up in Napa. That was very special. And THEN...talk about special. We went to Zuni for a spectacular dinner. The roast chicken was as glorious as ever and then all the extras and the delightful atmosphere. It was such a wonderful time. I am so fortunate. And still full...

music has no borders

 This documentary on Prime was a pleasant break from detective stories and the news last night. From 2020 when Linda Ronstadt and Jackson Browne joined a bus tour to Mexico for music and dancing. Linda and the Mockingbirds is positive and refreshing.

perhaps he will fall

Trump is walking on the White House roof today. He has already paved over the Rose Garden and turned the Oval Office into a fake gold filled mess. Such difficult times for all of us reasonable people.
 

yes, we all agree

 Geneva sent me this photo from her recent trip to Frankfurt, Germany. A bit hard to read, but a good one:

                                                               UNFUCK THE WORLD! 

the newlywed grands

 Heidi and I drove down to Burlingame yesterday for brunch with Samantha and Luke. A really nice time and delicious food at Alana's Cafe. The best news is that the family will gather at my house again for Thanksgiving and we all hope that Sister Jane will be here too. I will start bugging her now. By the way, they have sunshine everyday in Burlingame, 20 minutes away. 

congratulations ~ 20 years!

 Today Mr. and Ms. Blogmaid celebrate their wedding anniversary and we all send them love and gratitude and wow, tons of wonderful memories in those two decades. It seems like only yesterday, as the old folks say. Well, it does.

salad nicoise

 We had sunshine yesterday. Now what? I was invited to lunch at Gini's and we had a pleasant time catching up with all of our news. Some bitching, of course, about aches and pains, etc., but that just goes with the territory in this chapter of our lives.